For Cathy Teitelbaum, the last day of school came just like the 28 years before it. She took her third-grade class to Library Park in El Segundo, where they shared slices of pizza and root beer floats. She read them Dr. Seuss. Then, when the food was done and story finished, they hugged and said goodbye.

It was the final last day of school for Teitelbaum, who retired this year after a career spanning nearlyalmost three decades teaching in El Segundo schools.

“It’s been such a wonderful journey,” says Teitelbaum, 65, taking a break from packing boxes of books and papers, pens and pictures in Room 308. Chairs sit stacked on desks, books piled high on shelves. For 26 years, she has taught third grade in El Segundo, ten10 of those years in Room 308 at Richmond Street Elementary School.

Each student, she’ll tell you, has had a lasting impacteffect. And in turn, she hasn’t forgotten them.

She remembers student’s names and faces from years ago, where they went to college, what they did in life. In one case, a former student went on to teach at Richmond Street, just across the hall from Room 308.

“Connections are important,” she says. “If you don’t connect with students, you lose them. Life is all about connections.”

She got her first gigjob teaching fourth-graders in Chula Vista as a 22-year-old fresh out of college. She taught there for three years before relocating to El Segundo. She has never been tempted to leave.

Teitelbaum was drawn to third grade because of the students’ enthusiasm, their ability to absorb everything and anything. She loved their desire to learn.

“When I pay attention to them, I pay attention to myself,” she says of her students. “I’ve always tried to allow children to empower themselves, to inspire them to want to learn, rather than just talk at them.”

She has had her share of challenges – the occasional lost or withdrawn student, the overly intrusive parent. It’s always a task to keep up with technology, she says – a task compounded by the ever-shortening attention span of students. She has had her share of 12-hour workdays and weekends spent preparing the next week’s lesson.

“I don’t think anyone realizes how much is demanded of a teacher,” she says.

But it has all paid off. Teitelbaum’s passion for teaching has rubbed off on those she is closest with: Her husband, Marc, teaches fourth grade in Carson, and one of her two daughters, Robin, is an activities director at El Segundo High School.

Teitelbaum first started teaching in El Segundo at Center Street Elementary before eventually moving to Richmond Street.

She has taught art at the Getty Museum and traveled to Pompeii, Italy, to research history lessons. She has written curriculum with colleagues and began a bully intervention program. She has mentored younger teachers. She hasn’t had the same day twice.

“Each day is a new opportunity, a new challenge,” she says. “Each day is a new start.”

Stacy Feinbloom, who has taught with Teitelbaum for 12 years, says her colleague instilled in her attributes every teacher needs to be successful – patience, kindness, tolerance and respect.

“There is something to be said for old school beliefs and values,” Feinbloom says. “Cathy definitely reminds us all of what those values are and what we got into teaching for – the children.”

Teitelbaum, a Redondo Beach resident, intends to spend her new found free time relaxing – one of her first acts of retirement was turning off the 5 a.m. alarm clock for good. She’ll spend more time with her grandchildren. She’ll paint with watercolors and take Ttai Cchi classes.

Ask her what she’ll miss most and she holds back tears. She’ll miss the parents, teachers, the classroom. Of course, she’ll miss the kids. And she’ll miss El Segundo.

“It’s a small town, it’s a wonderful place to work” she says. “But it’s much more than that. It’s home.”